Patella strap method

ABSTRACT

A patella strap which the patella strap has a forward patella press which optionally includes a horse shoe shaped gel. Laterally of the patella press on both sides, buckles are provided which assist in securing the tension of the strap, provision is made for an angulated tension control which permits the patella strap to be used in the inferior or superior position with equal facility. The elasticized patella press allows individual tension control. The elastic patella press also provides the pocket for securing the viscoelastic insert. The band which engages the laterally positioned buckles optionally, but desirably, has an underlying leather like strap which prevents the buckle from contacting the skin of the body. The rear mounting body strap is inserted at both ends into the guide of the buckle, opposing the opening to receive the elasticized patella press which holds the patella engaging portion in place. The rear strap is intentionally non-elastic or in-elastic, and the two end portions have removable securing members which engage the outer surface of the strap after the end tabs have been reversibly folded to the buckle.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/028,607,filed Feb. 24, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to patella straps commonly used where thepatella or knee cap of an individual requires pressure to raise or lowerthe patella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In most instances when a patella strap such as that identified in U.S.Pat. No. 4,334,528 is employed, the support is applied to the lowerportion of the patella. The strap of U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,646, on theother hand, supports above and below the patella. This is known as aninferior application. The patella strap applies pressure on the patellartendon below the knee cap or patella, which helps guide the patella in afemoral groove for improved tracking. Improved tracking, in turn,relieves pressure and discomfort and helps to prevent eventualdegeneration. More specifically, the conditions for which a patellastrap is typically used include Chondromalacia Patella Syndrome (RunnersKnee), Patellar Tendonitis (Jumpers Knee), Osgood-Schlatter's Diseaseand Iliotibial Band Syndrome.

Alternatively, a patella strap in the superior usage applies pressure onthe quadriceps muscles above the knee cap. This helps to insure that thepatella glides easily against the thigh bone for improved patellatracking. Improved tracking helps relieve pressure and discomfort andhelps prevent eventual degeneration. A condition for which a superiorusage of a patella strap is indicated typically involves weakenedquadriceps muscles.

Patella straps such as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,528 do notdistribute the pressure over a large pressure area, nor is provision forcushioning provided. In addition, the subject prior art patella strap isprimarily dedicated to inferior usage, and not superior usage.Furthermore, pressure adjustment is awkward because no mechanicaladvantage is provided for tensioning the band.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a patella strap and method in whichthe patella strap has a forward patella press which optionally includesa horse shoe shaped gel. Laterally of the patella press on both sides,buckles are provided which assist in securing the tension of the strap,provision is made for an angulated tension control which permits thepatella strap to be used in the inferior or superior position with equalfacility. Desirably a viscoelastic horse shoe shaped insert allowsconforming compression to individual patella shapes at the point ofapplication. The elasticized patella press allows individual tensioncontrol. The elastic patella press also provides the pocket for securingthe viscoelastic insert. The band which engages the laterally positionedbuckles optionally, but desirably, has an underlying leather like strapwhich prevents the buckle from contacting the skin of the body. The rearmounting body strap is inserted at both ends into the guide of thebuckle, opposing the opening to receive the elasticized patella presswhich holds the patella engaging portion in place. The rear strap isintentionally non-elastic or in-elastic, and the two end portions haveremovable securing members which engage the outer surface of the strapafter the end tabs have been reversibly folded to the buckle. The methodof the invention is directed to selecting the type of patella pressuredesired, whether inferior or superior. Thereafter, a patella straphaving the general characteristic of one with an elastic patella pressholding a gel like member, and an inelastic band to the rear passingthrough an angulated buckle. Optionally when the buckle guide is angled,the strap is reversible from that inferior to superior position. Thewearer firstly applies the elastic press portion in a position inferioror superior to the patella or knee cap. Then, at that point, orpreviously, the mounting strap which is relatively in-elastic ispositioned and inserted to the angulated portion of the buckle.Thereafter, one side or both sides of the body strap are pulled untilthe desired tension is in the strap assembly and the desired pressure isinferior or superior to the patella. The final step in the methodresides in the closing of the relatively in-elastic strap behind theknee in a central position where the width of the strap applies pressureacross a large area of the rear portion of the knee to thereby reduceany tendency for constricting blood flow, adverse pressure on thenerves, and otherwise just disrupting the normal function of the knee bybeing supported.

In view of the foregoing it is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a patella strap which is universal in size, and canbe applicable to knees with a circumference of 10 inches through 19inches.

A related but important object of the present invention is to providefor reversibility of the patella strap so that it can be applied forinferior or superior applications.

A further object of the present invention is related to itsreversibility, and derives from the utilization of an angulated tensioncontrol strap and buckle which provides for a 5 degree to a 10 degreeoffset angle. This permits the in-elastic band to be urged upwardly onthe thigh or downwardly on the calf, depending upon the application.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide avisco-elastic U-shaped or horse-shaped insert which allows conformationby way of compression to individual knee structures at the point ofapplication.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in fulfilling theforegoing objectives with a patella strap which is inherentlyinexpensive to manufacture and cost justified, in view of its numerousadvantages, and is reversible in application.

DESCRIPTION OF A ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Further object and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description of an illustrative embodimenttakes place, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a typical knee, in phantom lines,illustrating the illustrative patella strap in the inferior position;

FIG. 2 is a view substantially identical to that of FIG. 1 butdisclosing the patella strap in an exploded perspective view;

FIG. 3 is a lateral view from the side of the knee of the patella strapin the inferior position. It shows in dotted lines the angulated buckleand the knee;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the patella strap in thesuperior position and also illustrating in dotted lines the angulatedposition of the buckle and the knee;

FIG. 5 is a plan view one side of the entire patella strap centralelastic portion;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the elastic portion taken from the rear of FIG.5 showing the offset flaps which underline the buckle;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one of the body straps; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the buckle.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The subject patella strap 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows theinferior application FIG. 4 shows the superior application. The sideview of the patella strap, shown in FIG. 2, is the same as in theinferior position, with the body strap 11, by means of its end tabs 12,penetrating the buckle and reversely folded to secure the same in place.

Turning now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the elastic patella press 15is preformed of an elastic fabric which is stitched around all 4 sides.Interiorly the horse shoe shaped gel 16 is held in a gel pocket 18provided by the patella press 15. End loops 19 in the elastic patellapress 15 are provided to secure the same to the buckle 20. To be notedFIG. 8 is that the buckles each have an end loop slot 22 for mountingthe same to the end loops 19 of the patella press 15.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG. 8, adesirably angled guide 24 with an angled guide base 25 is provided todefine a guide enclosure 26 in the buckle 20. The guide 24 being angledat an angle 5 to 10 degrees, insures that the body strap 11 pressesupwardly or downwardly depending upon whether the inferior or superiorposition is preselected. The buckle shield 21, provided beneath thebuckle 20, covers the area beneath the buckle 20 and thereby inhibitsthe pressure of the relatively hard plastic buckle 20 from pressingagainst the knee, but rather distributes the pressure over the area ofthe buckle shield 21. The closure cap 28 of the buckle 20 is curved onits outside to assist in the tensioning when applied.

The method of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, includes the stepsof applying the subject patella strap 10 which involves positioning theelastic patella press 15 firstly in the inferior or superior position.The user adjusts the patella press 15 until the horse-shoe-shapedviscoelastic gel 16 is oriented above or below the patella, as desired.Previously or thereafter the body strap 11, which is generallyin-elastic, is secured to the two buckles 20 at either end of the same,and through the guide base 25. Then with both hands, or one hand at atime, the end tabs 12 are secured to the rear face of the body strap 11.The end tabs 12 have on their underneath side, a loop 31 or hook 30mating engagement material to match the mating engagement material onthe body strap 11 which faces the end tabs 12 when they are reversed.The tension provided by the user is initially adjusted for comfort, andat a level which is intended not to inhibit circulation. During use, ofcourse, the tension can be increased or decreased easily by adjustingone or the other or both of the end tabs 12.

While materials are not necessarily critical to the subject invention,in a desirable commercial embodiment the body strap 11 is formed of thefollowing material:

Velcro® double faced loop (2")

The end tabs 12 are an extension of the body portion of the strap, butsecured there beneath is a mating engagement material having thefollowing additional characteristics:

2"×2" Velcro® hook material.

The body strap 11 is formed of a material having the followingcharacteristics:

2" hook compatible material, also soft and plush.

The buckles 20 are molded of polypropylene having a dimensionallimitation primarily dictated by the height of the patella press. Theunderling buckle shields 21 are formed of:

Leather.

The patella press 15 and its interior packet is formed of:

Velcro® velstretch 2".

Desirably the horse-shoe-shaped gel visco-elastic member 16 is formed ofthe following material and by the following method:

Molded visco-elastic material with felt background.

As it will be noted in the drawings stitching appears on the lateraledges of the gel pocket, the ends of the gel pocket where the loop 19 isprovided to receive the buckle 20, and such stitching is characterizedas follows:

Zig Zag stitch.

In a commercial embodiment the dimensions of the various elements havethe following ranges for the elastic press 15:

length=51/2", width=2", thickness=0.5".

The in-elastic strap, desirably, has the following dimensions:

17" (L)×2" (W).

Finally, the buckles have a dimension control by the press pocket or thestrap, or reversely, the press pocket controls the length andessentially the width of the buckle.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustratedin order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by thoseskilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of applying a reversible patella strap, comprising the steps of:providing a patella strap comprising in combination, an elongate body strap having end tabs at each end of the body strap, said end tabs having a releasable securing fit when the end tabs are reversibly folded over the body; a patella press which is essentially elastic and contains a pocket and a cushion member therein, and buckles for receiving the body strap in interlocking relationship to thereby secure the patella strap to the knee, said buckles each having an angulated slot; positioning the patella press in an inferior position on the knee adjusted to engage the patella or patella tendon; securing the body strap to the buckles on a lateral portion of the press and reversely folding the end tabs thereover; tensioning the body strap to the desired tension, and thereafter securing the strap in place by positioning the end tabs on a rear portion of the body strap.
 2. A method of applying a reversible patella strap, comprising the steps of:providing a patella strap comprising in combination, an elongate body strap having end tabs at each end of the body strap, said end tabs having a releasable securing fit when the end tabs are reversibly folded over the body; a patella press which is essentially elastic and contains a pocket and a cushion member therein, and means for receiving the patella press strap in interlocking relationship to thereby secure the patella strap to the knee, said means for receiving each having an angulated slot; positioning the patella press in a superior position on the knee adjusted to engage the patella or quadriceps muscles; securing the body strap to the means for receiving on a lateral portion of the press and reversely folding them thereover; tensioning the body strap to the desired tension, and thereafter securing the strap in place by positioning the end tabs on a rear portion of the body strap.
 3. A method of applying a reversible patella strap, comprising the steps of:providing a patella strap comprising in combination, an elongate body strap having end tabs at each end of the body strap, said end tabs having a releasable securing fit when the end tabs are reversibly folded over the body; a patella press which is essentially elastic and contains a pocket and a cushion member therein, and means for receiving the patella press strap in interlocking relationship to thereby secure the patella strap to the knee, said means for receiving having an angulated slot; positioning the patella press in an inferior or superior position on the knee adjusted to engage the patella or quadriceps muscles; securing the body strap to the means for receiving on a lateral portion of the press and reversely folding them thereover; tensioning the body strap to the desired tension, and thereafter securing the strap in place by positioning the end tabs on a rear portion of the body strap.
 4. A method of applying a reversible patella strap, comprising the steps of:providing a patella strap comprising in combination, an elongate body strap having end tabs at each end of the body strap, said end tabs having a releasable securing fit when the end tabs are reversibly folded over the body; a patella press which is essentially elastic and contains a pocket and a cushion member therein, and means for receiving the patella press strap in interlocking relationship to thereby secure the patella strap to the knee, said means for receiving having an angulated slot; positioning the patella press in an superior position on the knee adjusted to engage the patella or quadriceps muscles; securing the body strap to the means for receiving on lateral portion of the press; tensioning the body strap to the desired tension, and thereafter securing the strap in place by positioning the end tabs on a rear portion of the body strap. 